State of Delaware Issue CLXXVII May 2021 Produced by the Insurance Coverage Office CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL BOXES If you and your family are growing both in size and in electrical power needs you may need to consider upgrading your electrical service.. As you add more people, applianc- es, and electrical devices to your home, the power need grows right along with them. This leads to the question, "Is my electrical circuit breaker panel big enough?" More rooms, lighting, and electronic gadgets may add more load to your service panel than it can handle and a service upgrade would be in order. A qualified, licensed electrician can determine the amount of load your panel has on it presently, if you need an upgrade now, and what size is best for you and your fami- ly's needs. Simply adding additional outlets and lighting to existing circuit breakers is like- ly to cause circuit overloads and cause breakers to trip. LIGHTS AND SWITCHES Lights that flicker and switches that seem hot to the touch in all likelihood are problems to deal with now. Sizzling and/or popping sounds in and around switches mean that the switches are getting bad. Either loose electri- cal connections or bad contacts are usually the result of these sounds. Be sure you are using grounded switches and that the copper wire connections are attached properly and secure. Hot switches indicate the circuit may have more load that the switch can handle. Remember, if the lighting is on a 20-amp cir- cuit, please use a 20-amp switch, not a 15- amp switch to accommodate the load. ELECTRICAL OUTLETS Outlets can become a problem when the con- tacts become weak and cords start falling out of them. The fingers inside have a certain tension rating that is required to hold the plug in place. You can buy a tester that checks this tension and gives you a heads-up on whether your outlets are defective. Check for loose electrical connections to the terminals of the outlets and never use the push-in ter- minals. Replace cracked or broken outlets and wall plates. These can expose connec- tion points and wiring to everyone in the home, especially children. ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS TO HELP PREVENT FIRES May is National Electrical Safety Month. According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical cords and temporary wiring account for over 25% of the esti- mated 81,000 electrical system fires that occur each year. The risk of fires can be reduced by following these essential electrical safety tips. Extension cord safety rules Don't use extension cords as a substitute for repairing building wiring or as perma- nent sources of electricity. Extension cords should be temporary (90 days or less). Inspect extension cords for broken connectors, damaged insulation and missing hardware before each use. Do not run extension cords through walls, over beams, around corners or through doorways. Only use extension cords approved for the environment and loads expected. Equip extension cords with ground fault interruption (GFI) devices. Don’t use coiled extension cords. Discard damaged extension cords; don't try to repair them. Use only surge protected power strips. Inspect the power strips regularly for dam- age or signs of overloading. Temporary wiring safety rules Don't substitute temporary and flexible wiring for repairing building wiring. Use temporary wiring only when needed for maintenance, repair or demolition ac- tivities. Limit temporary wiring for holiday or ornamental lighting to no more than 90 days. In outdoor settings use only outdoor approved temporary wiring and extension cords. Don't route temporary wiring across floors, around doors or through walls. Locate temporary wiring at least 7 feet above any walking or working surface. Protect temporary wiring from sharp edges, heat and sunlight to avoid breakdown of the insulation. Equipment power cords safety rules Inspect equipment cords for damage before each use. Don't operate equipment cords without a ground connection unless they are double insulated. Don't splice equipment cords to repair damage or to extend the original length. Routinely inspect and perform maintenance on electrical equipment Lock out or tag all electrical equipment or lines while they are being serviced, main- tained or adjusted. Inspect all electrical appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, to ensure they’re properly grounded. Cords that are frayed or damaged should be removed and re- placed immediately, not spliced or taped. Shut down main power source when re- placing fuses. Safeguards to install on electrical equipment Write the purpose of each circuit breaker, fuse, or switch on the panel board. Label all disconnecting switches and circuit breakers. Consider upgrading outdated circuit breakers. Make sure there is sufficient access and working space around all electrical equip- ment for safe operation and maintenance. Cover all unused electrical openings (including conduit knockouts) with electrical enclosures and fittings. Do your part to prevent electrical fires by following the above guidelines. RIDDLES OF THE MONTH 1. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it and gray when you discard it? 2. What is it that when you take away the whole you still have some left over? 3. Can you name 3 consecutive days without using any of the days of the week? Answers on Page 2 Click here for Delaware’s latest COVID-19 information de.gov/coronavirus